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Nu. 6l4,599. Patented Nov. 22, |898. C. H. ALDRIDGE. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 9, 1897,) (No Model.) Il Sheets-Sheet I.

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Patented Nov. 22, |898.

C. ll.. ALDRIDGE. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application tiled Dec. 9, 1897.)

Il Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Modal.)

Patented Nov. 22 C. H. ALDBIDGE. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Applcatio'n filed Dec'. 9, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 6|4,599. Patented Nov. 22, |898.

C. H. ALDRIDGE. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 9, 1897.)

(No Model.) Sheets-Sheet 4.

' Flc 4 nu: Norms PETERS ce. Puoramuo. nvm-snm y N0. 6|4,599A Patented NOV. 22, |898. C. H. ALDRIDGE.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application filed Dec. 9, 1897.)

Il Shets-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

T'n: Nunms PETERS co. wormumo. wAsmNalun. n. z:v

Patented Nov. 22, |898.

C. H. ALDRIDGE.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Appliation led Dec. 9, 1897.)

ll Sheets-Sheet 6.

(No Model.)

MXN; mmgwwwwm Patented Noir. 22, |898.

lC. H. ALDRIDGE. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application tiled Dec. 9, 1897.)

Il Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

THE NcRms PETERS co, Fumo-mmc; wAsHxNcYoN, n. c.

No. 6l4,599. Patented Nov. 22, |898.

C1 H. ALIJBIDGE.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application tiled Dec. 9, 1897.)

Il Sheets-Sheet 8.

(No Model.)

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No. 614,599. Patented NOV. 22, |898.

C. H. ALDRIDGE.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 9, 1897.)

Il Sheets-Sheet 9.

(Nu Model.)

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No. 6|4,599. Patented Nov. 22, |898. C. H. ALDRIDGE. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Dec. 9, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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N0. 6|4,599. Patented Nov. 22, 1898. C. H. ALDRIDGE.

STRAIGHTKNITTING MACHINE.

(Application led Dac. 9, 1897.)

li Sheets-Sheet Il.

(No Model.)

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Il N TTED STATES PATENT Eric CHARLES HENRY ALDRIDGE, OF LOUGHBOROUGII, ENGLAND.

STRAIGHT-KNITTING MACHINE;

SPECIFXCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,599, dated November 22, 189^8.

Application filed December 9, 1897. Serial No. 661,281. (No model.)

To aZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HENRY AL- DRIDGE, hosiery machinist, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing' at Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, in the county of Leicester, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Straight -Knitting Machines, (for which I have received Letters Patent in Great Britain, Nef/,252, dated April 2, 1896,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of certain improvements in straight or flat-bar knitting machines which are particularly applicable to the type of machine known as Gottons patents, where such are used for making lace or open work, hose, socks, underwear, and the like. In these machines I provide a separate lacing-point for each needle or for every other needle or other proportion desired. Each lacing-point is carried by a separate sliding jack. Each jack has its corresponding dropper, by which it can be pushed down into action, and the droppers are selected or put into and out of action for pushing down the jacks by the action of jacquard-cards.

The main object of my invention is to enable fully-fashioned hose, socks, underwear, and the like to be made with the lace or open work running within a few stitches ofv the selvages all through the narrowin gs or widenings without loss of production and also to enable the lacework to be carried down the heels and instep, while at the same time the selvages of both heels and instep or other partings may be properly formed.

To enable the lacework to be carried within a few stitches of each selvage, notwithstanding that the fabric is being fashioned at the same time, I so mount the narrowing-points and the sliding jacks which carry the lacepoints that when the lace-points are lifted out of action they and the jacks which carry them are out of the way of the ordinary narrowingfinger; also, as the narrowing-fingers are moved inward the lace-points immediately over the narrowing-lingers are held out of action by bars or stops, which are moved inward or outward step by step with the narrowing-fingers when fashioning. In addition other stops are used and are. caused to act upon cert-ain predetermined droppers and hold them out of action at certain times or places-as, for instance, where the insteppartings are required in hose and the like or for stopping the lacework in the heels or other parts.

In order that the lace design may be produced with a reasonable number of cards, and especially if the design in one part of the fabric has to be different from that in another following part of the fabric, I arrange and operate the band of cards in a manner hereinafter described. I also arrange and work the pattern and fashioning chain or chains in a manner hereinafter described, whereby any length of lacing-work and number of fashionings can be produced with very short chain or chains and a corresponding small number of studs.

These several improvements will be understood byreferring to the accompanying drawings, where the mechanism relating thereto, together with some adjacent parts, is shown.

In the drawings I have only shown so much of a knitting-machine as is directly affected by my invention, the other parts not shown being similar to those used upon or in an ordinary plain-knitting machine of the Cotton type, which is well understood by all conversant with knitting machinery--such, for eX- ample, as shown in the specification of Cottons British Patent No. 3,123 of 1864.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a part section through the narrowing mechanism and some adjacent parts, and Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a front view of parts of same. Figs. 1a and 2 are similar views of the jacquard-cards and the barrels by which they are carried. Fig. 3 shows separately a portion of the rod H and stops carried by it. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show these stops in three (lider-ent positions relatively to the droppers. Figs. 7 and S show an end view and front view of the usual mechanism at the left hand of the machine for racking or imparting the endwise movements to the narrowingfingers and other adjacent parts. Figs. 9 and 10 are end and plan views, on a larger scale, of the mechanism for drawing aside the narrowin g-fin gers when not required to narrow. Fig. 10a is a view similar to Fig.

10, but showing the rod J connected to the IOO low

screw-box B11. Figs. 11 and 12 show separately an end and plan View of the parts for turning the axis of the jacquard-barrel in either direction. Fig. 13 is a plan View of some of the parts in Fig. 12 whenv the shaft K9 has been moved a distance endwise. Figs. 14 and 15 show an end and plan view of some of the parts carried by the shaft K. Figs. 16 and 17 show end and plan views of the cams carried by the shaft Ki. Figs. 18 and 19 show end and plan views of the parts for controlling the times at which the shaft K'J shall have a partial turn given to it. Figs. 2O and 21 show front and plan views, and Fig. 22 a part section and end View, of the parts for causing the pattern-chain to repeat and some adjacent parts. Figs. 23 and 24 are an elevation and a plan of a portion of the pattern-chain on a larger scale.

A are the needles; A', the sinkers; A2, the knocking-over bits.

B s the narrowingmechanism shaft, to which the arms B' are fast. These arms carry the shaft B2, to which brackets B3 are fast. These brackets carry the sliding rods or bars B4 B5, to which the fashioning-ingers BG B7 are attached, the finger B being fast to the rod B5 and the finger B7 being fast to the rod B4. B8 are the coverers or fashioning-points. The finger B(i transfers the loops at the lefthand or No. l selvage, and the finger B7 transfers the loops at No. 2 selvage in the usual wellunderstood manner.

The necessary movements are imparted to the narrowing mechanism by means of cams and levers through the connecting-link B9 in the usual We1l-understood manner.

C'L are the lacing-points, each carried by a sliding jack C3. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the sliding jacks C3 are in a different plane to the fingers B and B7, which carry the fashioning-points, so that they do not interfere with one anothers movement. The sliding jacks C3 slide in tricks or grooves cut vertically in a bar C2, which may extend the full width of the division of needles. This bar is carried by brackets C' from a rod C, which may pass through the brackets B3.

C5 is a cover-plate to keep the jacks C3 in the bar C2.

C are springs (one to each jack) which are carried by or fast to a suitable bar C7 and may be attached to the cover-plate C3. The jack C3 has a Vshaped nick in its edge at such a position that when the jack is in its raised position, as shownl in Fig. 1, the nose of the spring C( catches in the V-nick and supports the jack in its raised position-z'. c., out of action. When the lacing-point C4 is required in action, its jack C3is pressed downward until the lacing-point CA1 is brought into line with the fashioning-points B8, when it will bein position for transferring loops from its corresponding needle.

The rod or shaft C (and consequently the lace-points C4 also) has an endwise movement imparted to it, so that when a lacing-point is in action and has taken aloop from a needle it may be made to place it upon an adjacent needle and so form a lace-hole in the fabric.

The lace-points are selected and brought into acting position as follows:

D is a shaft carried by bearings in or upon the narrowing mechanism B', and it is free to rock therein. To this shaft D arms D' are attached, and to the ends of these connectinglinks D2are jointed. Through these links D2 a suitable rocking motion is imparted to the shaft D by a cam or cams upon the main shaft. Fast to the shaft D are other arms D3. These arms carry a rod or shaft D4. Upon this shaft D4 droppers E are threaded, one to each lace-jack C3. These droppers are free to rock upon the shaft DL and are held in their correct positions, each over its corresponding lace-jack, by means of comb-bars E E E'. These comb-bars may be carried by suitable brackets, which may be fast to the shaft D4.

The shaft D4 may have parallel fiat surfaces formed thereon, as shown more clearly in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, Sheet 4L, and the droppers may have a gap E7, Figs. 5 and 6, formed thereon, so that when the shaft D4 is turned into a suitable position any one of the droppers may be removed or replaced without unthreading the adjacent droppers.

It will be seen that the dropper as shown has four arms or members E, E3, E, and E". The lower arm E3 is formed with a V-shaped catch, which may engage with the top of its corresponding lace -jack C. The arm or member E1 of each dropper is provided with a pin E, which engages with jacquard-cards, as hereinafter described. Instead of the pins E being all in one line they may be arranged in two or more rows, so that no two adjacent droppers shall have their pins at the same distance from the shaft D4, by which means larger holes may be made in the selectingcards. The top arm or member E is acted upon by cam or stop pieces H' for stopping or throwing out of action certain droppers, as hereinafter described. The larger arm E acts as a Weight, whereby the lower arm E" is brought into contact with its lace-jack when permitted by the selecting-cards.

F is a shaft carried by brackets F', which may be fast to any convenient part of the framing of the machine. Arms F72 are fast to the shaft F. These arms carry a rotating shaft F3, which is rotated by means hereinafter described. This shaft carries the cardcylinders Fl. These cylinders carry and present the cards F5. To the arms F2 connecting-links F6 may be attached, through which a rising-and-falling motion may be imparted to the shaft F3, and consequently to the cardcylinders also. The cards F5 are perforated in the usual well-understood manner of jacquard mechanism.

Then a card F5 is presented by the cardcylinder F4 to the pins E6 on the droppers and IOO IIO

there is a hole in thecard over a dropper-pin E, the heavier arm E of the dropper will cause the pin EG to enter the hole in the card, whereby the catch E3 of the dropper will engage With its corresponding lace-jack, so that when the shaft D is rocked, as hereinbefore described, the corresponding lace-point Will be lowered and brought into action, and where there is no'hole in the card over a dropper-pin E6 that dropper-pin will be depressed and the catch E3 will not engage with its lacejack, and so its corresponding lace-point will not be brought into action. Vhen the droppers are again lifted into their raised position, a bar G, suspended by links G from the shaft D4, catches the heads CS of the jacks C3 and lifts them all out of action ready for the next selection by the cards.

In some cases-for instance, when making hose or the like- When the part is reached where the instep partings are made-t'. c., Where the eXtra carriers are brought into action for forming the heels-a certain number of lace-points adjacent to the selvages made by the partings are required to be held out of action, While the remainder of the lacepoints shall continue to come into action as selected by the cards, and then when the lacing has been continued down the heels a certain distance those lace-points which form the lacing in the heels are required to be stopped orheld out of actiomwhile the remainder may continue in action, as before, for lacing down the instep. cam or stop pieces to act upon the droppers in the following manner:

H4 are the cam or stop pieces formed upon collars H2, Figs. 3 to 6, Sheets 3 and l, Which are fast upon a light shaft H, which is carried by suitable bearings or brackets. n

H7 is a handle (see Fig.l :3) fast upon the shaft H, by means of which the shaft H may be turned.

H5 is a notched Wheel or segment also fast upon the shaft H, and H6 is a spring engaging with the notches to retain the shaft in any desired position.

When the shaft H is turned so as to bring the cam-collars H2into the position shown in Fig. 5, then the droppers are not affected by them, and so are under the control of the cards. When the shaft is turned into a position as shown in Fig. 4, then those droppers which are covered by the cam-pieces H4 will be held out of action, and When it is turned into a position as shown in Fig. 6 the cam-pieces H will hold out of action all the droppers covered by them. Thus when lacing down the leg of a hose, sock, or the like the cam-pieces H4 will be in the position shown in Fig. 5. Vhen the partings are made, then the shaft H will be turned and the cam-piece H4 Will be brought into the position shown in Fig. 4, and plain work Will be made at each selvage. Then when the heel-lacing is completed the shaft H is turned, so that the cam-pieces are brought into the To do this I employ position shown in Fig. G, when all the droppers except those engaged in lacing the instep will be thrown out of action.

Each plate may be thick enough to catch one dropper, so that for every extra dropper required to be stopped a plate is added.

So far I have simply described the campieces H4L and adjacent parts as used for making the partings and for stopping the lacings in the heels; but it will be evident that Where desired several cam-pieces of different shapes may be used, so as to stop various portions of lacework and so leave spaces for embroidery or the like, Without altering the regular full pattern of the cards.

The mechanism for imparting the endwise movements to the rod or shaft C, and consequently to the lace-points also, will be understood by referring to Figs. 7 and 8, Sheets 5 and 6. Fig. 7 is an end View of the mechanism, together with some adjacent parts, and Fig. 8 is a front View of the same. C9 is a suitable bracket attached to a convenient part of the framing of the machine. C10 is a screw or Worm carried in bearings attached to the bracket C. C11 is a nut or screw-box Working upon the screw C10. C12 is a rack-Wheel attached to the screw C10. C13 C14 are two racks which can gear into the rackWheel C12. These racks are jointed to the lever C15. This lever carries a truck or roller C16, which runs upon a cam or cams C17. C18 is a cam- Wheel which acts upon the racks C13 C14. C19 is a rack-Wheel attached to the cam-Wheel C18. C20 is a paWl which acts upon the rack-Wheel C19. This pawl C20 is jointed to the lever C21 by a suitable axle or pin and bracket, and motion is imparted to the lever C21 by the cam'or cams C22. Thus the cam or cams C22 rotates the cam-Wheel C18 step by step. This cam-wheel is so shaped that as it is rotated it throws the racks C13 C14 in and out of action in a certain predetermined order. The screW- boX C11 carries a bracket O23. To this bracket the rods C, D4, and F3 are suitably connected, so that the lace-points, the droppers, and the card-cylinders all move together endwise for the transfer of loops from needle to needle, as governed by the shape of the camwheel C18.

In some cases I impart a horizontal sliding motion to the narrowing-finger rods, so that the narrowing-fingers may be drawn out clear of the fabric altogether When a lace-course is made Without fashioning, and when a fashioning is required the fashioning-ngers are set in to such a position as will enable them to make the desired fashionings and then be again drawn out clear of the fabric. This will be understood by referring to Figs. 7 to l0, Sheets 5, 6, and 7. Figs. 7 and 8, Sheets 5 and 6, show the usual end mechanism (for the left-hand or No. 1 end) for racking or imparting the endWise movements to the narrowing-fingers, together With Vsome adjacent parts, and Figs. 9 and l0, Sheet O, are enlarged views of the special mechanism whereby the narrowing-fingers may be auto- IOO IIO

matically drawn out clear of the acting lacejacks and the selvage-needles when not required to narrow. The movements will be best understood by referring to the enlarged views Figs. 9 and lO, and this mechanism will be seen localized in Figs. 7 and 8, Sheets 5 and 6. B16 is a slide the bed of which is fast to the screw-box B11. Upon the end of this slide is a bracket B17. To this bracket the finger-rod B5 is connected by suitable brackets. Thus by the endwise movement of the slide B111 all the left-hand selvage-fingers B1 are moved endwise also. T8 is a light shaft carried in suitable bearings and running from end to end of the machine. To the end of this shaft an arnr T9 is fast, Figs. 7 and S. A connecting-link T10 connects this arm to the camwheel T11, Figs. 7 and S. This cam-wheel acts upon the narrowing-rack B13 so as to hold it out of or let it into action by the rocking of the shaft T8. This shaft T11 is rocked in such a manner and at such a time by mechanism hereinafterdescribed that when a lace course only is made the cam-wheel T11 holds the narrowing-rack out of action; but when a narrowing is required the shaft TS is rocked and the cam-wheel T11 permits the narrowing-rack 313 to fall into action. Also fast to the shaft TS are two arms T12, which carry a rod T13. A bent or bell-crank arm or lever T11 rocks upon a suitable pin which is conveniently attached and fast to the bed of the slide B11". The bottom end of the lever T1l1 embraces the rod T11V1 and the top end has a connecting-rod T15, which connects it to a cam T11". This cam is jointed to a bracket T17, which is fast to the bed of the slide B111. A truck or roller T18 runs upon a stud or pin which is fast to the slide B11. A spring B1Sholds this truck up to the cam T16. This cam is so shaped that when in the position shown in full lines in Fig. lO the narrowing-fingers will be drawn out clear of the selvage-needles or out of action, and when it is in the position indicated by dotted lines the slide B11 will be drawn in by the spring B18, as permitted by the shape of the cam T111, whereby the narrowin g-fingers are brought into action. Thus it will be seen that by the rocking of the shaft TS by mechanism hereinafter described the narrowingratchet B13 is thrown into action and at the same time the narrowing-fingers move into their position over the selvageneedles to transfer the loops as required, or the narrowing-ratchet B13 is thrown out of action and at the same time the narrowing-fingers are drawn out clear of the selvage-needles and the lacejacks and the selvage-loops are not removed from their needles except when a narrowing is required. Similar mechanism is located at the right-hand end of the machine for moving and controlling the right-hand fashioning-fin gers, and the two sets of mechanism are controlled simultaneously by means of the shaft T8, which will be well understood.

lVhen making fashioned work, it is sometimes desirable that the lacework should be made right across the fabric to within a few needles of each selvage, and as the fabric is narrowed or widened the lacework shall be narrowed or widened also. To do this, l arrange certain mechanism to act upon the droppers so as to throw them in or out of action in regular consecutive order as the fabric is narrowed or widened. This arrangement will be understood by referring to Figs. l and 2, Sheets l and 3. A rod or shaft J, Figs. l and 2, is carried by the arms D3, so that it will move up and down with the droppers and their adjacent parts. Two sliding rods or bars J 1 J 2 are carried by suitable brackets J 11, which are fast to the shaft J. A stop-bar J1 is attached by a bracket JS to the sliding bar J', and similarly a stop-bar J 11 is attached by a bracket J11 to the sliding bar J2. These rods J1 J 2 are caused to traverse or rack with the narrowing-finger rods B1 B5. To do this, aiinger-bracket J4 is fast to the bar J and fits into the fork-bracket J1", which is fast to any convenient part of the narrowing-finger rod B5, so that all lengthwise movements imparted to the finger-rod B5 are imparted to the .rod J also. ln a similar manner the rod J2 is connected to the finger-rod B'1 by means of the finger J15 and the fork-bracket J 1.

When the stop-bars J1 J111 are under the tails of any of the droppers E, they hold these droppers out of action, their inner ends always supporting those droppers which would engage with the lace-jacks immediately over the fashioning-points. Thus it will be seen that as the fashioning-Iingers B1 BT are narrowed or racked in the droppers im mediately'over the fashioning-points are always held out of action, and so the lacework is narrowed also 'independently of the selection made by the cards.

In some cases instead of the rods J J2 being connected to the finger-rods B4 B5, as hereinbefore described, I connect them, as illustrated in Fig. 10, by suitable brackets or the like directly to the screw-box B11 or to parts which are fast thereto, so thatinstead of the stop-bars J1 J 11 being drawn out each time the fashioning-ngers are moved outside the selvage-needles by means of the cam T111, as hereinbefore described, they will only be moved inward as thework is narrowed, and so cause a margin all down the selvages.

The stop-bars J1 J11 can be set inwards at each narrowing, as above described, without their ends coming against the sides of any of the tail ends E of the droppers, because the racking in of the fashioning-.fingers takes place just when the points are above the knocking-over bits, and consequently at the time when the shaft D'1 is in its lowest position in relation to the lacing-points. As the shaft D1 is moved into this position the droppers turn somewhat upon it until when the shaft is in its lowered position the arms E of all the droppers are lifted above the level of the stop-bars J 9 J11, and so do not interfere with the bars being moved cndwise.

IOO

IIO

I will now describe the construction of the band of cards and the mechanism for and the manner of rotating the card-cylindershaft F3.

The endless band of cards may be carried upward, as indicated in Fig. 1, and may pass over a suitable tightening-roller, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to which springs, cords, or other suitable equivalents may be attached in order to retain a constant tension upon the band of cards. In some cases where a large number of cards are used they may pass over suitably-located guide-rollers to the back of the frame, where the tightening-roller may be located, or they may be gathered up and stored in any other convenient manner.

When making a hose, sock, or the like, it is mostly desirable that two or more distinct patterns or designs shall be used, one or more designs forming a heading or bracelet, followed by another design, which may be repeated all down the leg and foot. To produce such an arrangement of designs with the smallest number of cards possible, I construct and arrange the band of cards as follows: Thecards necessary to form the heading or bracelet are laced up and presented all in regular consecutive order, and these are followed by the cards necessary to form one or more complete patterns of the repeating portion of the design. In a single design, where the pattern is reversible, the band of cards may be 'racked forward one card at a time until the pattern is completed, when the movement of the band of cards is reversed, and the cards arethen racked back one at a time until the first card of the repeating portion is reached,when the racking is again reversed, and so on, as long` as desired; but when the design of the repeating portion is not reversible I arrange and work the band of cards as follows: Then the band of cards has been racked forward one card at a time until the heading or bracelet is completed, I then cause the band of cards to be racked twice between each selection of lace-points, so that instead of each following card being brought into action consecutively every second card is brought into action, except when the movement of the band of cards is reversed, when it is racked once only, as hereinafter described.

The mechanism for producing the varied movements of the band of cards will be understood by referring to the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1 and 11 to 19, Sheets 2, 8, and 9, show this arrangement. Kis a ratchetwheel which is fast to the cylinder-shaft F3. K' is a second similar ratchet-wheel which is geared to the ratchet-wheel K by the equal gear-wheels K2 K5. K5 is a pawl by which a step-by-step turning movement can be imparted to the ratchet-wheel K, and K1 is a pawl by which a similar movement can be imparted to the ratchet-wheel K. Thus the card-cylinders will be turned in one direction when the pawl K5 is in action and in the opposite direction when K5 is in action. The

pawls K5 K6 are carried by a bell-crank lever K3, Figs. 1, 11, and 12, which is rocked upon the shaft F by a connecting-link K1, actuated by suitable cam or cams. Two forward movements are imparted to the pawls K5 K6 by the rocking of the bell-crank lever K3 between each selection of lace-points, so that two turning movements can be given to the card-cylinders in either one or other direction between successive selections. Either one or other or both of the ratchets can be held out of action by the action of cams K10 K11, which are fast on a shaft K3 and act upon the tails or extensions K7 KS of the pawls K5 K5. Separate views of these cams are shown at Figs. 16 and 17. The shaft K9 is racked or rotated aquarter of a revolution at a time by mechanism yet to be described.

Vhen the cams K10 K11 are in the position shown in Fig. 11, the pawl K5 will be in action and the band of cards will be advanced. Then if the shaft K3 be turned a quarter of a revolution both pawls K5 and KG will beheld out of action. If the shaft K9 be again turned a quarter of a revolution into the position shown in Fig. 1, then the pawl K6 will be in action and the pawl K5 out of action and the movement of the band of cards will be reversed. A step-bystep turning movement can be imparted to the shaft K9 in the following manner: The shaft K9 has fast upon it a ratchet-wheel L, Figs. 18 and 19. Abell-crank lever L rocks upon the shaft F. This lever receives its rocking movements from a suitable cam through the connecting-rod L2, attached to one of its ends. The other end of the lever L' carries a rack or pawl L3, which acts upon the ratchet-wheel L. The ratchet can be held up and out of action by a pin L9 on a lever L4. This lever works upon a fixed pin or axle L5. Another lever L6 works upon a pin or axle L7 in the arm F3. A pin L8 in one end ofthe lever L4 rests upon one end of the lever L, To the end of the card-cylinder shaft F3 a four-toothed wheel L10 is attached. Around this wheel a suitable endless chain L11 is passed having the same number of links as there are cards in the band of cards. Two inclines or studs L13 L13 are attached to this chain, so that as the card-cylinder shaft F3 is rotated the inclines L12 L13 come into contact with and depress the end of the lever L5. The inclines L12 and L13 are so located upon the chain L11 that when the first of the repeating cards is in acting position the ineline L12 will depress the lever L5, and when the last of the repeating cards is in acting po sition the incline L13 will depress the lever L3. A spring L14 may be attached to any convenient part of the lever L4 and the whole mechanism may be so set and adj usted that when the inclines L12 and LI3 are not in contact with the lever LG the spring L1l holds the pin L on the lever LL1 in such a position that the pawl L3 is held out of contact with the ratchet'- Wheel L, and when the inclines L12 or L13 depress the lever L6 the pawl L3 is let fall into IOO action and the shaft K1 is racked, and consequently the cams K10 K11 are racked also.

To make the relative movements of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1l, 12, 1S, and 19 clearer, l will consider them in conjunction with the construction or method of lacing up the band of cards. Taking, for example, the `number of cards in the repeating portion of the band of cards as six, and suppose there 'are ten cards required to form the heading or bracelet, then cards Nos. 1 to 1() will be the non-repeating cards and cards Nos. 11 to 1G the repeating cards, and the whole band of cards will be laced together as follows: 1, 2, 3, f1, 5, (i, 7, S, 9, 10, 11, 16, 12, 15, 13, 14, as illustrated in Figs. 1n and 211.

I will first describe the reversing movements of the repeating portion of the band of cards hereinbefore described.

The movements imparted to-the pawl L11, through the connectinglink L2, are such as to cause the pawl L3 to move or rack twice between each selection of lace-points, each movement of the pawl L3 following immediately after the movement of the pawls K5 K0. The band of cards having been advanced one card at a time for cards Nos. 1 to 11, the pawl K5 will be in action and will then rack the band of cards forward twice between each selection of lace-points, so that cards Nos. 1l, 12, and 13 come into action in regular order, as here inbefore described. During this series of movements the cams K10 K11 will be in the position shown in Fig. 11. Then after No. 13 has been presented-t'. e., acted upon by the droppers and so made a selection of lacepoints-theiirst time the pawl K5 is advanced No. let card is brought into acting position, and at the same time the incline L12 depresses the lever L0, whereby the ratchet Lis brought into action and the shaft K11 is racked onequarter of a revolution, as hereinbefore described. This movement of the shaft K0 turns the cams K10 K11 into such a position that both the pawls K5 K0 are held out of action. Thus when the pawl F5 advances for the second time the cylinder-shaft F3 is not racked, so that No. 14 card is presented for the next selection. The incline L12 being still in contact with the lever L0, the ratchet L3 (which moves immediately after the pawls K5 K0) again racks the shaft K9 one-quarter of a revolution, which brings the cams K10 K11 into the position shown in Fig. 1, where the pawl K11 is brought into action and the pawl K5 lifted out of action, so that before the next selection of lacepoints the pawl K0 will rack the band of cards back two cards, which brings No. 15 into action, and so on for No. 1G. After No. 1G has been in action the first time the pawl K0 is advanced No. 11 card is brought into acting position, and at the same time the incline L12 acts upon the lever L11, whereby the ratchet L3 is brought into action, the shaft K11 is racked one-quarter revolution, and the pawls K5 K0 are then both held out of action, while the pawl K5is advanced for the second time, so that the shaft F11 is not racked, and this leaves card No. 11 to make its selection. The second racking movement of theleverL5, which follows the second racking movement of the levers K5 K0, again turns the shaft N9 onequarter revolution, bringing the pawl K5 into action and throwing the pawl K0 out of action. This completes the cycle of movements, which is repeated as often as desirable.

I will now describe the mechanism which governs the movements of the band of cards during the formation of the heading or bracelet. These movement-s precede the reversing movements hereinbefore described. During the formation of the heading or bracelet the band of cards has to advance one card at a time between each selection, each card coming into action in consecutive order. To do this, the pawl K5 has to be in action; but as the pawl K5 moves twice betweeneach selection of lace-points, as hereinbefore described, it is necessary that it shall be held out of action every7 other time, so that it shall only rack once between each selection. This is effected by shifting the shaft K11 endwise, so that the cam K11 no longer acts upon the tail K7 of the pawl K5, and in place of it camnoses N N are brought into position to act upon the tail of the pawl and hold the pawl out of action every other time that it makes its forward movement. The mechanism for effecting this will be understood by referring to Figs. 1l, l2, 13, 14, and 15, Sheet S. To the end of the shaft K0 a wheel or collar M is fast. M is part of the framing of the machine or a bearing attached thereto, through which the shaft K9 passes. Upon the bearin g M is a suitably-shaped fixed incline M2. The wheel or collar M is cut out so as to tit over the incline M2, so that when the shaft K11 is turned or racked for the first time, after starting the band of cards, by the ratchet L2, as hereinbefore described, the incline M2, bearing upon the wheel or collar M, causes the shaft K9 to move endwise in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1:2, into the position shown in Fig. 12. Vhen the shaft K1 is in the position shown in Fig. 13, the cam K11 is not acting upon the tail of the ratchet K5. Upon the shaft K0 is a loose sleeve or collar N. (Seen best in the enlarged views, Figs. 14 and 15.) Upon the ends of this collar are two camnoses N N. Fast upon this collar is arackwheel N2. The bell-crank lever K5 carries a pawl N5, which acts upon the rack-wheel N2, and so turns the collar N. When the shaft K11 is in the position shown in Fig. 13, the camnoses N N are above the tail K7 of the ratchet K5 and the pawl N3 is in contact with the rack-wheel N2. Then the cam-noses N' N are in the position shown in Fig. 13, the pawl K5 will be in action and will rack the shaft F5. Then as the pawl 15 retires the pawl N3 will rack the collar N one-quarter of a revolution, so as to bring one of the noses N' into contact with the tail of the pawl K5, so that as it advances for the second IOO time it is held out of action. Then when it retires the'collar N is again racked, whereby the pawl K5 is again brought into action. Thus the pawl K5 racks the cylinder-shaft at every other advance. A friction-clip P, Fig. 13, may embrace the collar N. It may have a tail P to engage with the shaftF to prevent the clip turning. An arm or collar P2 is fast tothe shaft K9. To this arm or collar a pawl or ratchet P2 is jointed and engages with a suitable nick or groove in the boss of the rack-wheel, N2 or the collar N. This pawl may be held in its nick or groove by a spring, as shown.

Before starting the knitting of a hose, sock, or the like the shaft K9 is turned round by hand until the recess in the wheel or collar M, Fig. 13, is opposite theincline M2. The shaft K9 is then pushed endwise into the position shown in Fig. 13. In turning the shaft K9 into this position the pawl P2, Figs. 12, 14, and 15, engages with its nick or groove-in the rack-wheel N2 and turns it, and consequently the cam-noses N N also, into the correct position for starting the band of cards. The machine is then started. The pawl K5 racks lthe band of cards one card at a time between each selection of lace-points, as hereinbefore described, until the bracelet or heading is completed,when the incline L12, Fig. 18, comes into action. The shaft K9 is rocked and at the same time is shifted endwise by the incline M2, Figs. 12 and 13, whereby the camnoses N N are thrown out of action and the cam K11 is brought into action, and the band of cards is then advanced two cards between each selection, except when the movement of the band of cards is reversed, as hereinbefore described. A bracket P1, attached to any convenient part of the framing, may carry a pin P5 to support the pawl N2 when the rack-wheel N2 is moved from under it by the endwise movement of the shaft K9, as shown in Fig. 12 and hereinbefore described.

The number and order of the lacing-courses, as also the number and order of the narrowings, are regulated and governed by means of studs acting upon certain levers, which in turn act upon the well-understood mechanism which shogs or shifts the cam-shaft endwise, whereby the set of narrowing or fashioning cams come into action and the fashioning or lace courses are made. If when making a f ull-len gth hose-for example, which has lacework from welt to toe-the endless chain had one continuous step-by-step forward movement given to it in the ordinary way, the chain would have yto be of such a length that it would be almost impracticable to use it. To obviate this, I provide certain arrangements of mechanism whereby at times the chain may be racked backward and forward, so as to keep repeating certain studs while making lacework without fashioning, and then racked straight forward in the usual well-understood manner, while that portion of the fabric is made which is required to be fashioned. By these means a much shorter chain, and consequently smaller number of studs,will regulate and govern the lace courses and n arrowin gs in the longest hose. This arrangement will be understood by referring to Figs. 2O to 24C, Sheets 10 and 11. Fig. 20 is a front eleva1ion,Fig. 21 a plan, and Fig. 22 is a part end view and section, of the mechanism for causing the chain to repeat and some adjacent parts. Figs. 23 and 24 are elevation and plan of a portion of the chain, showing the studs, inclines, or notches. R is the chain-wheel, around which the endless chain R (similar to that shown in Figs. 23 and 24) passes, as indicated by dott-ed lines in Fig. 20. The chain-wheel R is racked in the direction of the arrow S in the usual well-understood manner by means of the ratchetwheel S4, which is fast upon it, being acted upon by a pawl S3, carried by a lever S2, (see Fig. 22,) acted upon by the cam S. Three levers R', R2, and R3 are provided, which are to be lifted at certain predetermined intervals by the studs R4 R5 R9, which are fixed upon the endless chain. The lever R has a connecting-rod R1 jointed to its extremity. This rod is attached at its other extremity to the pawl which racks the usual well-nnderstood shogging mechanism, whereby the cam-shaft is shogged or shifted endwise for the purpose of making a narrowing or lace course. Thus when a stud R4,R"1, or R9comes under the nose of the lever R the connectingrod RT lowers the hereinbefore-mentioned pawl, which racks the shogging mechanism, whereby the cam-shaft is shifted endwise and a lace or fashioning course is made according to which of the studs is in action, as hereinafter described. R2 is another lever which is acted upon by the stud It serves to put into or out of action the mechanism for shifting the fashioning-points sidewise according to whether a lace-course or a fashioning-course is to be made. This lever has a vertical arm or prop R9. T is a lever jointed or working upon a pin or axle T. T2 is a truck or roller carried by the lever T and which runs upon the cam T2. One extremity of the lever T is so arranged that it can rest upon the top of the arm or prop R8 of the lever R2. lVhen it does so, this arm is held up and the truck T2 cannot follow the path of the cam T9. To the other extremity T5 of the lever T a connecting-rod TG is jointed and connects it to the arm T1, which is fast to the shaft TS. This shaft T9 runs from end to end of the machine and carries the arms T9 and T12, Figs. 8, 9, and 10, Sheets 6 and 7, as hereinbefore described. Thus when there is no stud below the nose of the lever R2 the spring R12, Fig. 21, holdspthe lever in such a position that the arm or prop RS is under the end T1 of the lever T and the shaft TS is not turned, land the narrowing-fingers are not racked and are held outside the selvageneedles; but when a stud R5 comes under the nose of the lever R2 the prop R2 is shifted IOO IIO

from under the end T'l of the lever T. The truck T2 is then free to follow the path of the cam T3. The shaft Ts is consequently turned in its bearings when the narrowing-ingers are brought into acting position over the selvage-needles, and the racking-clawkers areI thrown into action. The selvage-loops are then shifted, and the narrowing is made. The chain is made up wit-h studs similar to R'1 where lacework is required, and a stud similar to R-is placed where a narrowing is required at the same time as the lace-course.

lVhile making lacework in the parts of a hose, for example, where there are no narrowings-L e., above the oalf-narrowings, also down the ankle and instep-instead of continuously advancing the chain and so using many studs I cause the chain to repeat on one or more studs, as follows: A lever V is jointed upon a fixed pin or axle V. A connectingrod V2 connects this lever with the lever S2. To the end of the lever V a olawker V3 is jointed and engages with a second rack-wheel V4, also fast to the chain-wheel R. Thus it will be seen that when the pawl S3 is in action the chain-wheel R will be racked in the direction of the arrow S and when the clawker V3 is in action the chain-wheel R will be racked back in the direction of the arrow V5. A lever Vi is jointed upon a pin or axle VT, which is carried by the lever V. The lever V is provided with a weighted arm Vs at its lower end, and its top end is so shaped as to form a guide or stop for the finger or bracket XV, which is fast to or part of the pawl S3, so that the weighted arm V8 tends to hold the pawl S3 out of action. A pin V9 projects from and is fast to the olawker VS. A connecting-link V10 connects the pin V (and consequently the clawkerV3 also) with the arm V(s in such a manner that when the olawker V3 is in action the arm VG holds the pawl S3 out of action, and when the olawker V3 is held out of action the pawl S3 falls into action. The stud-lever R3 has a lower arm or member Y. This carries a pin Y at its lower extremity. Against this pin the olawker V3 can rest. A spring Y2, attached to the pin Y', tends to hold the olawker V3 out of action. Then a stud, such as R, Fig. 24, comes under the nose of the lever R3, the weighted arm Vs causes the olawker V3 to engage with the rack-wheel V4, and the chain-wheel, and consequently the chain also, is racked back in the direction ofthe arrow V5. The stud RG is thus drawn from under the nose ot' the lever R3, and the pull of the spring Y2 throws the olawker V3 out of action, whereby the pawl falls into action and the chain is again racked forward, which brings stud R again under the nose of the lever R3, and the chain is racked back as before. Thus the chain continues to move forward and backward as long as lacework without narrowings is required. lVhen it is desired to narrow, thon the attendant racks the wheel R forward, (by the ordinary hand racking-lever, not showin) so that the stud R is racked clear of the nose of the lever R3, when the chain continues to advance, regulating the lace and fashioning courses, as hereinbefore described, according to the arrangement of studs, such as R" Ri. When the one set of narrowings is com pleted, another stud, such as R, comes under the nose of the lever R3, and the repeating process is continued as before until it is desired to again narrow, when the chain is racked on once more by hand and the fashioning-studs are brought into action as before. By these means any number of lace courses can be produced between the sets of fashionings without continuously advancing the chain, and thus a short length of chain is sui'iicient for the longest hose.

Vhen using a repeating chain, as hereinbefore described, it is sometimes desirable that the chain shall be racked forward one bar at a time for two consecutive courses and then at the third course to be racked back two courses, thus completing the cycle of movements in three courses. It will be seen that by the arrangement and connection of the levers S2 and V the amount of movement of the clawker V3 is greater than that of the pawl S3. This I so arrange that when uncontrolled by other mechanism the pawl Si will rack the chain forward one bar or tooth at a time, and the olawker V3 when in action will rack back two bars or teeth. A bolt Z may be carried by a bracket Z', so that when in its raised position it is clear of the extension Z2 of the olawker V3, and the clawker V3 will then rack two or more teeth, as hereinbefore described; but when the bolt Z is pushed down it comes into contact with the extension Z2 of the olawker V, which is so shaped that the clawkerV3 is held out of the first tooth it would take, and so it only racks one tooth. Thus when the bolt Z is down the movement of the chain will be one bar forward, then one back, and so on, and when the bolt Z is up the movement of the chain will be one bar forward for two consecutive rackings, then two bars back in one rack or other proportion, as desired.

lVhat I claim isl. In a Hat-bar knitting-machine for making lace or open-work hose, socks, underwear and the like, the combination of the needles, the lace-points, the sliding jacks by which they are carried, thedroppers one for each sliding jack tending always to move into a position above the jacks, mechanism for raising or lowering all droppers simultaneously7 the jacquard mechanism by which any one or other of the droppers can be moved away from its position above the jack it works with, so that when all the droppers are lowered simultaneously the sliding jacks which are below the droppers thus moved away are not depressed into acting position.

2. The combination of the needles, the lacepoints, the sliding jacks by which they are carried, the bar carrying these sliding jacks,

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mechanism for raising and lowering and moving backward and forward this bar and for moving it endwise, the droppers, mechanism for simultaneously raising or lowering all the droppers, the jacquard-barrel, mechanism for giving a step-by-step turning movement to the jacquard barrel and for lowering and raising it to bring it against or move it away from the droppers, and the bar raised'and lowered with the droppers for raising all the sliding jacks to bring them all back out of acting position when the droppers are raised.

3. The combination of the needles, the lacepoints, the sliding jacks, the bar or bracket carrying the sliding jacks, the arms from which this bar or bracket is carried, the rocking shaft from which these arms extend, the droppers, the rod upon which they are mounted, the arms carrying this rod, and the shaft from which these arms extend carried in bearings in the iirst-mentioned set of arms.

4. The combination of the needles A, the fashioning-points B5, the bars B4 B5 by which they are carried, the bracket B3 carrying these bars, the shaft B2 by which it is carried, the arms B' carrying this shaft from a rocking shaft B, the lace-points C4, the sliding jacks C5, the bracket G by which they are carried, and the shaft C to which this bracket is fixed and which is carried by the bracket B3, the droppers E, the rod D4 by which they are carried and the rocking shaft D carried bythe arms B and from which the rod D4 is carried.

5. The combination of the needles A, the fashioning-points B5, the bars B4 B5 by which they are carried, the bracket B5 carrying these bars, the shaft B2 by which it is carried, the arms B carrying this shaft from a rocking shaft B, the lace-points C4, the sliding jacks C3, the bracket C by which they are carried, and the shaft C to which this bracket is fixed and which is carried by the bracket B4, the droppers E, the rod D4 by which they are carried and the rocking shaft D carried by the arms B and from which the rod D4 is carried, the jacquard-barrel F4 and the arms F2 by which it is carried from a rockshaft F.

6. The combination of the needles, A, the rock-shaft, B, the arms, B, extending from it, the lace-points, C4, and the endwise-sliding jacks, C5, which carry them; the fashioning-points, B8, the acting ends of which are always in the same vertical plane as the lace-points, the lingers, B4, B7, by which they are carried and which lie in a plane inclined to the plane occupied by the jacks and do not extend into this plane and supports for the fingers and jacks carried from the ends of the arms, B.

7. The combination of the needles A, the lace-points C4, the sliding jack C3, the droppers E, the fashioning-points B5, the sliding bars B4 B5 from which they are carried, the sliding bars J J i", the stops J9 J4 carried by these bars and which when brought below the tail eds of the droppers hold the droppers out of action, and the arms J 5 J 7 extending from the bars B4 B5 and causing the bars J J2 to move endwise to and fro with the bars B4 B5 so that as the fashioning-points are moved inward or outward to narrow or widen 'the fabric all lace-points which are immediately above the fashioning-fingers remain raised and out of action.

8. The combination of the needles, A, the lace-points, G4, the sliding jacks, C3, by which they are carried, the droppers, E, mechanism for raising and lowering the droppers and movable stop-pieces for holding any of the droppers in such a position that when lowered they do not carry down with them the corresponding sliding jacks.

9. The combination of the needles, A, the lacepoints, C4, the sliding jacks, C3, by which they are carried, the droppers, E, mechanism for raising and lowering the droppers, the shaft, H, and stop-pieces carrried by this shaft so that by turning the shaft into different positions the stop-pieces can be brought into position to hold some or other of the droppers in such a position that when lowered they do not carry down with them the corresponding sliding jacks and thereby leave the lacepoints carried by these jacks outof action.

10. The combination of the needles A, the rods B4 B5 carrying the fashioning-iingers, the slides B16 to which at one of their ends the rods are connected, the rocking cam-pieces T16 the brackets T47 which carry the campieces, the slides B11 by which the brackets are carried and which are moved inward or outward as narrowings or widenings are to be made, and mechanism for rocking the campieces T1G each time that the fashioning-ngers are to be brought into action so that the fashioning-iingers may be kept outside the selvage except when required to narrow or widen.

l1. The combination of the droppers, the jacquard barrel, and the jacquard cards laced together in such manner that a portion of them adaptedfor producing any complete portion of the pattern are laced together in consecutive order so that they are successively brought into active position by continuously moving the bands forward step by step, one step at a time, while the remainder are laced together in such order that they can be brought into action consecutively when the band is moved forward two steps at a time, and then after a single forward or backward movement afterward move backward two steps at a time, so that this portion of the pattern can be repeated continuously.

12. The combination of the needles,the lacepoints, the sliding jacks `by which they are carried, the droppers, one for each sliding j ack,the j acquard-barrel adapted to be moved up to and away from the droppers, the band of jacquard-cards passing around this barrel,

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